How does Bluetooth work?

Before setting up Bluetooth devices, it is helpful to understand the following terminology:

Discoverable mode - Allows a Bluetooth device to broadcast a signal so that it can be detected by other nearby Bluetooth devices.

Searching - The process by which one Bluetooth device attempts to locate another Bluetooth device that is broadcasting a signal in the discoverable mode.

Pairing - The process by which two Bluetooth-enabled devices use a passkey to establish a link between them for the first time.

Passkey - A passkey, sometimes called a passcode or pairing code, is a series of unique numbers that allow two Bluetooth-enabled devices to communicate with each other in a secure manner.

 
To set up a new Bluetooth-enabled device on your computer:

1. make the new device discoverable,
2. search for the new device from your computer,
3. pair the computer with the new device.

Some devices require using a passkey to establish a connection, others do not. After pairing the Bluetooth device with the computer, be sure that you go back and deselect discovery mode so that your computer cannot be seen by nearby Bluetooth devices.